Reusable Package Wrapping Sleeve

ABSTRACT

A reusable gift box that includes a container, a lid for the container and a collapsible sleeve configured for placement within the container and around a gift. The rigid container has at least one transparent sidewall. The sleeve has an inner surface and an outer surface, and the outer surface includes a decorative design. The sleeve further includes a lower edge forming a first opening and an upper edge forming a second opening. The sleeve is configured to be removably inserted into the container whereby the outer surface of the sleeve is disposed adjacent an inner surface of the transparent sidewall. The sleeve is configured to cover at least a portion of the sidewall and the decorative design is visible through the sidewall.

FIELD

The present application is related to and claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Application No. 61/632,319, filed on Jan. 23, 2012. Thisinvention relates to the field of package wrappers. More particularly,this invention relates to a reusable giftwrap sleeve.

BACKGROUND

Traditionally, gifts are wrapped in giftwrapping paper or are placedinto gift bags or are otherwise covered in order to surprise therecipient but also to give the gift an attractive appearance. Thisprocess often requires the purchase of many separate gift wrappingproducts, including wrapping paper, boxes, ribbons, bows, tape, etc.Then the paper must be measured and cut to appropriate dimensions thatwill fit the gift and then the gift is wrapped. The wrapping process isoften a slow and labor-intensive process.

Once the gift is opened, the wrap is usually discarded immediatelythereafter. Even if the recipient or gift giver wanted to save thegiftwrap, it is often impossible because the giftwrap is often torn awayfrom the gift in small, unattractive and unusable pieces.

The introduction of the gift bag solved some of these problems becausegifts could be quickly placed into the bag and the bag could be reusedfrom one year to the next. However, gifts placed into gift bags aresubject to damage and can be easily crushed or may fall out of the bag.Additionally, gift bags are typically only used for wrapping gifts andmust be stored when not used for that purpose.

What is needed, therefore, is a gift-wrapping container that isreusable, simple to use and protects the contents from damage.

SUMMARY OF THE CLAIMS

The above and other needs are met by a reusable gift box that includes acontainer, a lid for the container and a collapsible sleeve configuredfor placement within the container and around a gift. The rigidcontainer has at least one transparent sidewall that includes a lipdefining an open top, the container also include an enclosed bottom. Thelid is configured to receive the lip and to enclose the open top. Thecollapsible sleeve includes a first rigid material selected from thegroup consisting of card stock, cardboard, paper and plastic. The sleevehas an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the outer surfaceincludes a decorative design. The sleeve further includes a lower edgeforming a first opening and an upper edge forming a second opening. Thesleeve is configured to be removably inserted into the container wherebythe outer surface of the sleeve is disposed adjacent an inner surface ofthe transparent sidewall. The sleeve is configured to cover at least aportion of the sidewall and the decorative design is visible through thesidewall.

In certain embodiments, the sleeve is formed using at least one flexiblematerial. For example, the flexible material may be giftwrap. In certainother embodiments, the sleeve is collapsible. In other embodiments, thesleeve is substantially rigid. In particular, the sleeve may be formedusing a first rigid material, which may include card stock, cardboard,paper and plastic. In certain embodiments, the sleeve or the containermay be generally cylindrical. In certain other embodiments, the sleeveor the container may be generally rectangular. In certain otherembodiments, the sleeve may include a bottom connected to the lower edgeof the sleeve thereby enclosing the first opening of the sleeve. In someembodiments, the sleeve is collapsible.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further advantages of various embodiments are apparent by reference tothe detailed description when considered in conjunction with thefigures, which are not to scale so as to more clearly show the details,wherein like reference numbers indicate like elements throughout theseveral views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sleeve according to embodiments of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 depicts a sleeve being inserted into a rigid container having asubstantially transparent sidewall;

FIG. 3 depicts a sleeve partially inserted into a rigid container;

FIG. 4 depicts a sleeve fully inserted into a rigid container and a giftpositioned within the sleeve;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view depicting a round sleeve according toembodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view depicting a small rectangular sleeveaccording to embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view depicting a tall rectangular sleeveaccording to embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view depicting a sleeve having a bottom; and

FIG. 9 depicts a sleeve being collapsed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 depicts one embodiment of a decorative reusable package-wrappingsleeve 102 for assisting in quickly, easily and securely wrapping giftsin accordance with embodiments of the present invention. As shown inFIGS. 2-4, the sleeve 102 may be placed into a container 202, such as aclear plastic container or tote, thereby forming a decorated gift box.In addition to gifts, the sleeve 102 may also be used for food or floralapplications. As such, different types of containers, other than plasticcontainers and totes, suitable for these other applications may be used.For example, the container 202 may be a vase, glass dish, etc. Asexplained further below, the container 202 includes a substantiallytransparent sidewall 204, which allows the sleeve 102 to be readilyperceived through the sidewall after it is placed into the container.

As the term is used herein, “sleeve” means a type of enclosure that maybe placed into the container such that an outer surface 106 of thesleeve 102 is disposed adjacent and in close proximity to an innersurface of the sidewall. The sleeve 102 is configured such that anobject, such as a gift, may be placed into an inner surface 104 (i.e.,the enclosed portion) of the sleeve.

This design gives the appearance of a gift-wrapped container whileavoiding many of the problems of traditional giftwrap. In particular,inserting the sleeve 102 into the container is much quicker and easierthan wrapping a standard gift box. Also, this design reduces the amountof wasted giftwrapping materials that are typically thrown away afteronly a single use. Also, the sleeve 102 can be used many times, so userscan save money by avoiding single-use wrapping materials. Finally, afterthe gift has been received, the storage container 202 can be used forother purposes such as household storage, etc.

Referring again to FIG. 1 the sleeve 102 generally includes an innersurface 104 and an outer surface 106 comprising a decorative design 108.The decorative design 108 may include various celebratory messages orimages (e.g., balloons, “Happy Birthday”, etc.), as shown.Alternatively, the decorative design 108 may be simply traditionalwrapping paper designs (e.g., snowflakes, stripes), plain (e.g., asingle color), or a custom design (e.g., company logo, custom message,etc.).

The sleeve 102 also includes a lower edge 110, which forms a firstopening 112, and an upper edge 114, which forms a second opening 116. Asshown in FIGS. 5-7, the dimensions and shape of the sleeve 102 may beadjusted to accommodate different sized or shaped containers. Forexample, FIG. 5 depicts a round sleeve 102, FIG. 6 depicts a smallrectangular sleeve 102, and FIG. 7 depicts a tall rectangular sleeve102. In certain embodiments, as shown in FIG. 8, a bottom 802 may beprovided to enclose the first opening 112 of the sleeve 102.

Preferably, the rigid sleeve 102 is formed using a lightweight materialthat is inexpensive and is strong enough to withstand impact and wearduring use. In certain embodiments, the sleeve 102 is substantiallyrigid. A rigid material will tend to make the sleeve 102 retain itsshape more easily, which will tend to simplify insertion of the sleeve102 into the container 202, as shown in FIG. 2. Suitable materials forthe sleeve 102 may include card stock, cardboard, paper and plastic. Inother embodiments, the sleeve 102 may comprise a flexible material suchas giftwrap. A flexible material may be beneficial when the shape of thesleeve 102 is irregular or round, as shown in FIG. 5.

The sleeve 102 is preferably collapsible to allow for easy andconvenient transport and storage when not in use. Referring again toFIG. 1, in certain embodiments, the sleeve 102 may include one or morecreases 118 that enable the sleeve to collapse. One alternative designfor a collapsible sleeve 102 is depicted in FIG. 9.

The foregoing description of embodiments for this invention has beenpresented for purposes of illustration and description. It is notintended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise formdisclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light ofthe above teachings. The embodiments are chosen and described in aneffort to provide illustrations of the principles of the invention andits practical application, and to thereby enable one of ordinary skillin the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and withvarious modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.All such modifications and variations are within the scope of theinvention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted inaccordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally, andequitably entitled.

What is claimed is:
 1. A decorative reusable sleeve adapted for use in agenerally rigid container having at least one substantially transparentsidewall, the sleeve comprising an inner surface and an outer surface, alower edge forming a first opening, and an upper edge forming a secondopening, wherein the outer surface of the sleeve comprises a decorativedesign and wherein the sleeve is configured to be removably insertedinto the container whereby the outer surface of the sleeve is disposedadjacent an inner surface of the at least one substantially transparentsidewall of the rigid container and wherein the sleeve is configured tocover at least a portion of the at least one sidewall of the rigidcontainer.
 2. The sleeve of claim 1 wherein the sleeve comprises atleast one flexible material.
 3. The sleeve of claim 2 wherein theflexible material is giftwrap.
 4. The sleeve of claim 1 wherein thesleeve is collapsible.
 5. The sleeve of claim 1 wherein the sleeve issubstantially rigid.
 6. The sleeve of claim 5 wherein the sleevecomprises a first rigid material selected from the group consisting ofcard stock, cardboard, paper and plastic.
 7. The sleeve of claim 1wherein the sleeve further comprises a bottom connected to the loweredge of the sleeve thereby enclosing the first opening of the sleeve. 8.The sleeve of claim 1 wherein the outer surface of the sleeve isgenerally cylindrical.
 9. The sleeve of claim 1 wherein the outersurface of the sleeve is generally rectangular.
 10. A reusablemultifunction package comprising: a generally rigid container having atleast one sidewall that is at least partially transparent, the containerincluding a lip defining an open top, and a bottom; and a decorativesleeve having an inner surface and an outer surface, a lower edgeforming a first opening, and an upper edge forming a second opening,wherein the outer surface of the sleeve comprises a decorative designand wherein the sleeve is configured to be removably inserted into thecontainer whereby the outer surface of the sleeve is disposed adjacentan inner surface of the sidewall of the rigid container so that thedecorative design may be seen through the at least one sidewall andwherein the sleeve is configured to cover at least a portion of the atleast one sidewall of the rigid container.
 11. The reusablemultifunction package of claim 10 wherein the sleeve comprises at leastone flexible material.
 12. The reusable multifunction package of claim11 wherein the flexible material is giftwrap.
 13. The reusablemultifunction package of claim 10 wherein the sleeve is collapsible. 14.The reusable multifunction package of claim 10 wherein the sleeve issubstantially rigid.
 15. The reusable multifunction package of claim 14wherein the sleeve comprises a first rigid material selected from thegroup consisting of card stock, cardboard, paper and plastic.
 16. Thereusable multifunction package of claim 10 further comprising a lidconfigured to receive the lip and to enclose the open top.
 17. Thereusable multifunction package of claim 10 wherein the container isgenerally cylindrical.
 18. The reusable multifunction package of claim10 wherein the container is generally rectangular.
 19. The reusablemultifunction package of claim 10 wherein the sleeve further comprises abottom connected to the lower edge of the sleeve thereby enclosing thefirst opening of the sleeve.
 20. A reusable gift box comprising: agenerally rectangular rigid container having at least one substantiallytransparent sidewall, a lip defining an open top, and an enclosedbottom; a lid configured to receive the lip and to enclose the open top;and a collapsible sleeve comprising a first rigid material selected fromthe group consisting of card stock, cardboard, paper and plastic, thesleeve having an inner surface and an outer surface comprising adecorative design, a lower edge forming a first opening, and an upperedge forming a second opening, wherein the sleeve is configured to beremovably inserted into the container whereby the outer surface of thesleeve is disposed adjacent an inner surface of the at least onesubstantially transparent sidewall of the rigid container and whereinthe sleeve is configured to cover at least a portion of at least onesidewall of the rigid container.